Method of making wall-coverings.



J. W. MclNDOE & A. EfWHlTNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1916.

1 208,808. I Patented Dec. 12), 1916.

TSHEETSSHEE1 I.

I .30 'fitilaz i w x/ A i as o 1294' 66 Mentors: 56 Jamtrs WMQEIdOC,

.flruwrli',

J. W. McINDOE & A. E. WHITNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILEVD MAR- 22.1916.

1,208,808. Patented Dec.19,1916.

7SHEETSSHEET 2- b m bgdw v J. W. McINDOE & A. E. WHITNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1916- 1 ,208,808. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

7SHEETSSHEET 3.

J. McINDOE & A.-E. WHITNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 22, 1916- Patented Dec. 19, 1916 7 SHEETSSHEET 4.

J. W. McINDOE & A.' E. WHITNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 19I6.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J. W. MC|NDOE & A. E. WHITNEY.

METHOD OF MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-22.1916.

1,208,808. I Patented Dec. 19,1916.

7SHEETS--SHEET 6.

1. w. McI NDOE & A. c. WHITNEY.

uzruoo or MAKING WALL COVERINGS.

AH'LICAHON Lin IAR- 22' I916- 1.208.808. Patented Dec. 19, 191b,

l SNEEIS"SH[T I.

a I W I m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' JAMES W. MOINDOE, 0F MEDFORD, AND ARTHUR E. WHITNEY, 0F WINCHESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed March 22, 1916. Serial No. 86,313.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMEs W. MCINDOE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Medford, in the county of Middleselt and State of Massachusetts, and ARTHUR E. WHITNEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of 'Winchester, in the countyof Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making all-Coverings, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to methods of applying designs to sheets of material such as board, wall board, wall paper, etc., and has for its object the provision of means whereby an inexpensive sheet of material may be readily provided with an ornamental configuration which will greatly increase its value.

It .is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture ofwall coverings either in the form of paper to be secured to the plastered wall or in the form of wall board to be secured directly to the studding of the build- Any selected article having a flat face and provided with a suitable configuration may be used and .by means of this improved method may be transferred to sheets of material in exact reproduction of the original. For instance, a wood veneer may be used and the grain thereof transferred to a sheet of wall board so exactly that after the board has been stained it is impossible to distinguish by eye the counterfeit from the origi; nal.

- The invention consists in certain novel methods whereby these desirable results are obtained, all of which will be readily understood by reference to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan of two abutting pieces of wood from which it is desired to reproduce the grain on some other material. Fig. 2 represents an elevation of the same secured to a supporting plate,said plate being shown in section. Fig. 3 represents a similar view showing in elevathe reinforce for said electroplate.

tion superimposed upon the face of said abutting pieces of wood an electroplate thereof. Fig. 4 represents a plan of said electroplate. Fig. 5 represents an edge view of the same formed into a cylinder. Fig. 6 represents a plan of said cylinder. resents an elevation of a forming cylinder adapted to contain said electroplate. Fig. 8 represents an end elevation of the same. Fig. 9 represents a transverse section of the same, on line 9-9 on Fig. 7, and showing Fig. 10 represents a longitudinal section of the completed impression cylinder with said electroplate forming the periphery thereof. Fig. 11 represents an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 7 rep- Fig. 12 represents a longitudinal elevation of the same, partially in section, and showing the impression cylinder separated from its supporting mandrel. Fig. 13 represents a longitudinal section of an electrotype bath in which the forming cylinder is agitated 'endwise while the copper reinforce is being formed on the inner face of the electroplate, said section being .on line 13-13 on Fig. 14. Fig. 14. represents a transverse section of the same on line 14-14 on Fig. 13. Fig. 15 represents'an elevation partially in section of the apparatus used to heat the reinforced electroplate preparatory to the formation of the lead backing therefor. Fig. 1 6 represents a section of one end thereof moved into vertical position and showing the funnel through which molten lead may be poured in the formation of the backing for the electroplate. Fig. 17 represents an elevation of said heater. Fig. 18 represents a horizontal section of the revoluble electroplate support on line 18-18- on Fig. 16.

resents a face View of a piece of wall board on which a design has been impressed by this new method. Fig. 24 represents a transverse section of the same before passing beneath the impressioncylinder. Fig. 25 represents a similar view of said board after passing beneath the impression cylinder. Fig. 26 represents a similar view showingthe indentations formed in the face thereof filled with material of a different shade or color, and Fig. 27 represents a longitudinal sectional detail of said board showing a single filled indentation. v

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 30, 31 are two pieces of wood or wood veneer, the grain in one of which is just the reverse of that in the other. The corresponding ends of these pieces of material are trimmed and then the trimmed edges are butted against one another as at 32, Fig. 1 and secured to a fiat supporting plate 33 by means of shellac or some other adhesive substance. Preferably the fiat plate 33 is of metal and the pieces of ma.- terial 30, 31 should be of equal thickness throughout. When these pieces of material 30, 31 have been secured in position with two ends abutting at 32, a continuous de-v sign is formed, the lines of grain in one piece 30 meeting the lines of grain in the other piece 31. When the pieces 30, 31 have been iinmovably secured in position upon the plate 33 the upper surfaces of these pieces are smoothed and leveled in any wellknown manner, and then soaked in some substance, such as turpentine, until the gum in the grain is thoroughly softened. After the gum has been softened sufiiciently it is removed from the grain, this operation preferably being effected by a wire brush. The material will then have in its upper surface a plurality of cavities from which the gum has been removed.

When the material has become dry a thin coating of shellac is applied to the entire upper surface, including the cavities therein, and when this shellac has become dry, powdered graphite or some similar electric conductor is deposited over the entire upper surface as indicated at 34 in the lower left hand corner of Fig. 1. p

The plate 33 with the pieces of material 30, 31 thereon is then placed in an electroplate bath'and a positive electroplate 35 is formed thereon and then stripped therefrom. The outer ends of the electroplate 35 are then trimmed on the parallel lines 36 which must be equidistant from the center of the design so that when bent into the form of a cylinder as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the lines of the grain at one end will be directly opposite the lines of the grain at the into the position shown in Fig. 9 in which position the ends 36 of the electroplate 35 will also abut. The tube 37 is provided with a plurality ofradial. projections 39 in which are mounted the threaded adjustin bolts 40 having the nuts 41 mounted tiereon. Normally the split tube 37 is in the position shown in Fig. '8, but when the nuts 41 are turned on the bolts 40 it may be sprung into the position shown in Fig. 9 in which position its interior wall will be a perfect cylinder against which the printing face of the electroplate 35 will contact.

The outer face of the electroplate 35 is covered with oil, grease, or some other nonconductor to prevent any deposit thereon lgvhieln subsequently placed in an electroplate The ends of the tube 37 are provided with a plurality of holes 42 adapted to receive the projecting members 43 on supports 44 depending from a frame 45 adapted to be reciprocated by a power driven device 46. The frame 45 is mounted upon rollers 46 revolubly mounted at the upper end of the tank 47 containing the electroplate bath. The construction and operation of the devices used in the electroplating operation need not be described herein, as specifically they form no part of the present invention.

Vhen the tubes 37 with the electroplate therein have been placed in the electroplate bath and the current has been turned on, copper will be deposited on the back of the electroplate thus forming a reinforce 42 therefor. The tubes 37 are reciprocated with the frame 45 and by this means the liquid in the tank 47 is caused to flow through the tube 37 and an even deposit of copper reinforce is insured throughout the length of said tube. \Vhen the electroplate has been provided with a reinforce of copper of sufiicient thickness to give it rigidity it is removed from the tank 46 and placed between two heads 48 mounted upon a. tapered arbor 49 centrally disposed relatively thereto.

As will be seen by referring to Fig. 15 there is considerable space between the arbor 49 and the inner wall of the reinforced electroplate 35. Between the heads 48 is a. cylinder 50 of thin sheet metal which protects the electroplate 35 from injury while being subjected to the heat from the charcoal'fire built upon the grate 51 at the beta i a head 48 andthen molten lead or other soft metal is poured through thesame untilthe space between the electroplate 35'. and arbor 49, has been backing 59 for the"electroplate-35 has been created. I The reinforced elctroplate': with is backing59 is then removed from the arbor 49 and placed upon a tapered-arbor 60 of a pressure'machine such as is shown in Figs. 3:9,- 1 20, and. 21, said machine being provided with a bed roll 61 between which and the impres--- sion roll '60 the sheet of material 62"is adapt ed to be fed as shown in Fig 20.

The taperedarbor 60 is provided .with the flanged ends 63-64 having annular bearing members 65-66 therein and each flange,

' 65-64 is provided- 2 withma] pluralitg of threaded members 67; acting upon. the ing members 65 661 and by} which the rein forced electreplate 35 with-its backing 59 may be forced. on jor'olfgbfi the tapered arbor.60.'.y- I .1

" As the material moves inthe direction of the arrowa (Fig. 20) the projections on the electroplate 3,5 will formfindentations 68 in the upper face of the material, 1 and as thematerial passes beneath the roller 69 these indentations will be tilled jby-" material of. a difi'eren't shade from the body of the material and thereby bring out; with greaterclearness the grain of'the wood; The filler material is applied to the roller by the distributing device .70.

7 When the sheet of material 6 2 has. passed from beneath the impression cylinder and filler roll 69 it will haveimpressed in its face the exactfreproduction of the grain jbyselectmg'veneers'of zmaho any the grain to pine? or some otherf equally inexpensive in the original pieces of wood; as indicated at 71in Fig. 23. The sheet of material may be as shown in'Fig." 24""composedof' pulp" v board withfla "facing. 't'2- ;offpaper. or other substance on'one or. moresurfaces-or the 1m pressions may: be mania;in. thel paper itself or in the pulpfboard 'withoutga facing of It is obvious,ialso;-fthat the impressions may be made in 'cheapergrades of wood and thereof may be",transferred mto boards of wood - The; indentations iwill extend into the surface different distancesandhave differcompletely filled and a solid J gum from the grain;

. therefrom;

thereof secured to a Ifiatand leveling said veneer; removing the gum from the grain; forming an electroplate ent widths and variations in exact V imitation' of the original grain, andlwhen'v these 7 indentations. have been filled as indicated at 7 3 in Fig. 26;"th'e' various thicknesses of the filler will cause the cheaper wood to have the appearance of the more expensive wood used asanoriginal. J

In the disclosed embodiment of this invention, pieces of wood are'shownand described as the selected'pieces of materialzto be .used as originals; but itis self-evident that the processmay be carried out with parting from the principles of the invention. While in order to properly describe the invention certain constructions offidevicesare shown which may be used in carrying out the/improved process; it is self-evident be used equally as well.

' Heretofore that other constructions of said devices may the "reatest has which will be perfectly cylindrical in cross many other vkinds of material without de-- .beenfound in obtaining an impression roll section, but by, this improved process this result is attained; itbeing apparent that when the electrqplate '35 is bent ."into the forming tube it will spring outwardly with.

its operating face in: contact with-the inner Wall'of said tube,-and when the reinforcefl fi has been deposited on its rear fa'ce'thecylindrical' formation thereof is made' 'permanent.

It is believed thatthe many advantages. of a process, such as is herein described and claimed will be frilly apparent without further description.-

v Having thus described our invention, we claim: I 1. The method which consists in taking two pieces ofwood v en'eer of similar design;

abutting the ends together with the backs' ate; removing the thereof secured to a fiattpl 0 an electrormin 'pl'ate therefrom; and, then orming said velectroplateinto an "impression cylinder. p

2. The method which consists in taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design;

trimming the corresponding 1 ends thereof abutting walls; abutting the to produce together with the backs there trimmedends of secured to a, flat p1ate;]removingthe gum from "the grain ;'yforming an electroplate and then forming said electro-"- 1 plate into an impression cylinder.

3. The method which 01151 ts in an gtwo pieces of wood veneer of similar design;

abutting the ends together with the backs therefrom; and then forming said electroplate into an impressionflinder.

4. The method-which c 'sistsin taking two pieces of wood veneer 6 similar design; abutting the ends together with the-backs plate; smoothing 1 real 6. The method which consists in taking.

two pieces of wood veneer of similar design; abutting the ends together with the hacks thereof secured to a fiat plate; removing the gum from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimming said electroplate; shaping said electroplate into a cylinder. with its,

printing face outward; and then providing said electroplate cylinder with a solid backing. v

7. The method which consists in taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design; abutting the ends together with the hacks thereof secured to a flat plate; remov'ng the gum from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimming said electroplate; shaping said electroplate into a cylinder with its rintinc' face outward de ositin co oer h p o 7 t: L

electrolysis on the hack of said electroplate cylinder; and then providing said electroplate cylinder with a solid hacking.

8. The method which consists in taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design;

cylinder with its printing face outward; suhmerging said cylinder in an electrotype bath; agitating said cylinder in said bath while copper is being deposited on the inner face of said electroplate cylindem and then providing said electroplate cylinder with a solid hacking.

11. The method which consists in taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design; abutting the ends together with the hacks thereof secured to a flat plate; removing the gum from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimming said electroplate; shaping said electroplate into a longitudinally split cylinder with its printing face outward; forcing together the longitudinal edges of said cylinder to cause the ends of said. electroplate to abut; and then providing said electroplate cylinder with a solid backing;

12. The method which consists in taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design; abutting the ends together with the backs thereof secured toa flat plate; removing the gum from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimming said electroplate; and then shaping said electroplate into a cylinder with its printing face outward.

13. The method which consists in taking a flat article provided with a configuration; securing said article to a flat plate; depositing an electric conductor over the exposed surface of said article; forming an electroplate therefrom; trimming said electroplate; forming said electroplate into a cylinder with its printing face outward and abutting the ends together with the hacks with the lines of said configuration register thereof secured. to a fiat plate; removing the gum fro; L the grain; formingan electroplate thereof trimming said electroplate; shaping said electroplate into a cylinder with its printing face outward; and then providing said electroplatc cylinder with a solid backof soft metal.

The -method which consists in taking a two pieces of wood veneer of similar design;

abutting the ends together with the hacks thereof secured to a iiatplate; removing the from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimming said electroplate; shaping said *electroplate into a cylinder with its printing outward; providin said electroplate cylinder with-a solid leaching; heating said electrotype cylinder; and then providing said cylinder while heated with a solid soft metal hacking.

l0; The method which consistsin taking two pieces of wood veneer of similar design; abutting the ends together with the backs thereofsecuredto'a flat plate; removing the um from the grain; forming an electroplate thereof; trimmin said electroplate; shaping said electropl ate into a posed surface of said piece of wood; and.

then forming an electroplate therefrom.

15; The method which consists in taking a selected flat article provided with a configuration; securing said article to a flat plate; depositing an electric conductor over the exposed surface of said article; forming an electroplate therefrom; trimming said electroplate; forming said electroplate into a cylinder with its printing face outward; and then-providing said cylinder with a copper reinforce'deposited upon its rear surface. 4

l6. Themethod which consists in taking a selected flat article provided with a configuration; securing said article to a flat plate; depositing an electric conductor over the exposed surface of said article; form- 

